The Adua-class submarines were essentially repeats of the preceding Perla class. They displaced680 long tons (690t) surfaced and 844 long tons (858t) submerged. The submarines were 60.18 meters (197ft 5in) long, had a beam of 6.45 meters (21ft 2in) and a draft of 4.7 meters (15ft 5in).[1]
For surface running, the boats were powered by two 600-brake-horsepower (447kW)diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 400-horsepower (298kW)electric motor. They could reach 14 knots (26km/h; 16mph) on the surface and 7.5 knots (13.9km/h; 8.6mph) underwater. On the surface, the Adua class had a range of 3,180 nautical miles (5,890km; 3,660mi) at 10.5 knots (19.4km/h; 12.1mph), submerged, they had a range of 74nmi (137km; 85mi) at 4 knots (7.4km/h; 4.6mph).[2]
The boats were armed with six internal 53.3cm (21.0in)torpedo tubes, four in the bow and two in the stern. One reload torpedo was carried for each tube, for a total of twelve. They were also armed with one 100mm (4in)deck gun for combat on the surface. The light anti-aircraft armament consisted of one or two pairs of 13.2mm (0.52in) machine guns.[1]
Construction and career
Gondar was launched on 3 October 1937 in OTO's shipyard in La Spezia and commissioned on 28 September 1938.[1] Initially, she was assigned to 14th Squadron based at La Spezia. After intensive training and exercises, in August of 1938 Gondar was reassigned to the III Submarine Group based at Leros. During 1939, Gondar made a long endurance training in the Dodecanese, and in February of 1940 the submarine was temporarily assigned to Messina, and finally in May 1940 she became a part of 15th Squadron (I Submarine group) based at La Spezia.
At the outbreak of hostilities she was immediately sent on a mission to patrol an area along the French coast and Gulf of Genoa. She returned to the base on 14 June 1940 without encountering any enemy traffic.
After completing two more missions, one 20 miles east of Cape Antibes from 18 to 25 June 1940, and the other off the Strait of Gibraltar from 5 to 16 August 1940, Gondar was moved into Arsenal at La Spezia to convert her into SLC carrying submarine. Three SLC (Siluro a Lunga Corsa which means long running torpedo) units were fitted onto the boat on her deck, two placed side by side in the aft, and one on her bow, the submarine's deck gun was also removed to accommodate SLC units. With a weight of 2.8 tons, these SLC cylinders were able to withstand depths up to 90 meters, triple the depth the first system that was installed on Iride.[3][4]
Submarines Gondar (left) and Argo in La Spezia (September 1940).
On 21 September 1940 Gondar, under command of captain Francesco Brunetti, sailed from La Spezia to raid the naval base of Alexandria, after the first attempt by Iride had failed. In the evening of September 23, 1940 Gondar arrived in Messina, where she embarked on an SLC unit of six officers, one NCO and 3 sailors.[4] On 25 September 1940 she secretly left for Alexandria. On 29 September Gondar was ordered to head to Tobruk, as the British naval force had sortied from Alexandria. While on her way to Tobruk, at 20:30 on the same day, Gondar spotted an enemy ship, about 1,500 meters away.[3][4] The submarine tried to disengage by diving to 80 meters, however, she was almost immediately detected by ASDIC of destroyer HMASStuart who immediately attacked the submarine with depth charges.[4] In two hours, at 22:30 two more ships joined the hunt, an armed trawler Sindonis, and HMSDiamond, with additional units coming to help as the hunt went on, including Sunderland flying boats. The ongoing depth charge attacks caused serious damage to the submarine and especially to the SLC units which were beginning to flood. At 8:30 on September 30, 1940, Gondar had to surface, due to sustained damage and almost completely exhausted reserves of oxygen. Upon surfacing, the crew scuttled the boat with explosive charges. Except for electrician Luigi Longobardi, who was killed by one of the bombs dropped by a Sunderland flying boat, the entire crew was rescued and imprisoned by the British.[3][4]
Evacuation of the Gondar
With sinking of Gondar, the British intelligence noted the three cylinders on the deck of the submarine, and a presence of numerous divers among the crew. That raised questions about existence of special units in Regia Marina responsible for penetration into enemy ports.[3]
Italian submarine Axum was an Adua-class submarine built in the 1930s, serving in the Regia Marina during World War II. She was named after an ancient city of Axum in Ethiopia.
The Adua-class submarine was the fourth sub-class of the 600 Series of coastal submarines built for the Regia Marina during the 1930s. There were 17 submarines in this class, almost all named after places in Ethiopia which had been an Occupied by Italy since 1936, but only one, Alagi, survived World War II. Three submarines of this class were sold to Brazil before the war and replaced with submarines of the same names.
Italian submarine Scirè was an Adua-class submarine, built in the 1930s which served during World War II in the Regia Marina. It was named after a northern region of Ethiopia, at the time part of Italian East Africa.
Italian submarine Iride was a Perla-class submarine built for the Royal Italian Navy during the 1930s. Originally, she was named Iris until July 1936, but was renamed shortly before her launch.
Enrico Toti was one of four Balilla-class submarines built for the Regia Marina during the late 1920s. The boat played a minor role in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939 supporting the Spanish Nationalists. She was the only Italian submarine to have sunk a Royal Navy submarine during the Second World War.
The Perla-class submarines were the third sub-class of the 600 Series of coastal submarines built for the Royal Italian Navy during the 1930s and named after gemstones. Of the ten boats built of this class, only three survived World War II.
Italian submarine Durbo was an Adua-class submarine built for the Royal Italian Navy during the 1930s. It was named after a town of Durba in Ethiopia.
Italian submarine Uebi Scebeli was an Adua-class submarine built for the Royal Italian Navy during the 1930s. It was named after Shebelle River in Ethiopia.
Italian submarine Lafolè was an Adua-class submarine built for the Royal Italian Navy during the 1930s. It was named after a "massacre at Lafolè", an ambush set up by Somalis on November 25, 1896, against a travelling Italian party near a village of Lafolè.
Italian submarine Ascianghi was an Adua-class submarine built for the Royal Italian Navy during the 1930s. It was named after Lake Ashenge in Ethiopia.
Italian submarine Uarsciek was an Adua-class submarine built for the Royal Italian Navy during the 1930s. It was named after a village in Somalia which housed a coast guard station during the period of Italian colonial control.
Italian submarine Tembien was an Adua-class submarine built for the Royal Italian Navy during the 1930s. It was named after a Tembien region of Ethiopia, where Italian troops fought two battles against more numerous Ethiopian troops during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.
Italian submarine Neghelli was an Adua-class submarine built for the Royal Italian Navy during the 1930s. It was named after a town of Negele in Ethiopia.
Italian submarine Beilul was an Adua-class submarine built for the Royal Italian Navy during the 1930s. It was named after a town of Beilul in Eritrea.
Italian submarine Aradam was an Adua-class submarine built in the 1930s, serving in the Regia Marina during World War II. She was named after the Amba Aradam mountain in Ethiopia.
Italian submarine Adua was an Adua-class submarine built in the 1930s, serving in the Regia Marina during World War II. She was named after Adwa, a town in northern Ethiopia.
Italian submarine Dagabur was an Adua-class submarine built for the Royal Italian Navy during the 1930s. It was named after the town of Dagabur in eastern Ethiopia. The submarine played a minor role in the Spanish Civil War of 1936–1939, supporting the Spanish Nationalists. On August 11, 1942, during World War II, Dagabur was rammed by destroyer HMS Wolverine and sank with all hands.
Italian submarine Dessiè was an Adua-class submarine built for the Royal Italian Navy during the 1930s. It was named after the town of Dessie in north-central Ethiopia.
Italian submarine Ambra was a Perla-class submarine built for the Royal Italian Navy during the 1930s. She was named after the gemstone amber.
Mario Giorgini was an Italian naval officer during World War II. He commanded the I Flottiglia MAS, the special operations unit of the Royal Italian Navy, from February 1940 until his capture during an attempt to carry out a manned torpedo raid on Alexandria in September of the same year. After the war he became an admiral in the Marina Militare.
References
Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-962-6.
Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-146-7.
Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third Reviseded.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-59114-119-2.
Giorgerini, Giorgio (2007). Attacco dal mare: storia dei mezzi d'assalto della marina italiana. Mondadori. ISBN978-8804512431.
Greene, Jack (2004). The Black Prince And The Sea Devils: The Story Of Valerio Borghese And The Elite Units Of The Decima Mas (Firsted.). Da Capo Press. ISBN0306813114.
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